Ezra Meeker and the Story of the Oregon Trail Memorial
The Oregon Trail Memorial Commemorative Half Dollar has been called not only the most beautiful Commemorative Half Dollar but it has also been recognized as the most beautiful American coin of all time.
The Oregon Trail Memorial Commemorative Half Dollar was strongly supported by Ezra Meeker. Meeker was born in 1830 in Ohio. In 1852 he traveled the Oregon Trail with his wife and baby son in a wagon pulled by oxen. He left Ohio and traveled across the country to claim some open land in the Oregon Territory. Meeker never forgot his experience of crossing the country as thousands had done. But he felt that the pioneers who risked life and limb by crossing the Oregon Trail were being forgotten, by some estimates over 20,000 men, women and children did not survive the trip. He devoted the last 20 years of his life to bringing publicity to the Trail and the hundreds of thousands of pioneers who traversed it and raising money to get the Trail marked so future generations would remember their struggle to settle in this country.
Meeker set about raising publicity and funds to build markers along the Trail. In 1906, he traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with President Teddy Roosevelt who encouraged his efforts. In 1910, he once again traveled the 2,000-mile length of the Trail by oxcart, holding press conferences along the way. He traveled it by Motorcar in 1916 and by airplane in 1924.
The idea of proposing a Commemorative Half Dollar to Congress to pay for the Trail markers originated with Dr. Minnie Howard but was immediately supported by Meeker. They formed the Oregon Trail Memorial Association (OTMA) which would be instrumental in the issuance and distribution of these coins.
But by 1925, Congress had authorized a dozen bills for commemorative coins and the public was becoming wary of coins being issued for “less than truly national causes.” Nevertheless, a bill sponsoring the coins was introduced by a Washington Congressman and it received support in both the House and Senate. It was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge. The bill authorized up to six million coins be struck for this purpose and it did not restrict which mints could strike the coins or how long the coins could be minted as long as they didn’t exceed the six million coin authorization.
The OTMA and Meeker, who was age 96 in 1926, wanted the coins struck as quickly as possible. They contact Chester Beach who had recently completed the 1923-S Monroe Doctrine and 1925 Lexington-Concord Commemorative Half dollars, but Beach was too busy.
They next reached out to Gutzon Borglum who had designed the 1925 Stone Mountain Commemorative Half Dollar, but Borglum wanted too much money and would take too long to design the coin. The OTMA then turned to the husband and wife team of James Earle Fraser and his wife, Laura Gardin Fraser. James’ Buffalo Nickel was very popular and Laura had just completed the 1921 Alabama Centennial, the 1922 Grant Memorial, and the 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Commemorative Half Dollars. This would be their only commemorative collaboration as husband and wife.
Congress authorized six million half dollars and placed no restriction on when or at what mint the coins would be struck. Meeker’s Oregon Trail Memorial Association (OTMA) had tens of thousands of pieces struck in 1926 and 1928, and did not sell them all. Nevertheless, in most years between 1933 and 1939, it had small quantities of the half-dollar coin, in some years from all three operating mints to produce mintmarked varieties, and raised prices considerably.
Collectors complained that some of the issues were controlled by coin dealers, and individual collectors had to pay high prices. Public protests followed, and in 1939 Congress ended the series. Despite the complaints, the OTMA had difficulty in selling the coins, and they remained available from the OTMA’s successor organization as late as 1953. Just over 260,000 of the 6,000,000 authorized coins were struck, of which about 60,000 were melted. The US commemorative coin struck over the longest period, the Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar has been widely praised for its design.
The Obverse wagon side designed by James depicts a wagon drawn by a team of two oxen, heading West on the coin and into a setting sun. Surmounting the coin at the top periphery is “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Below the wagon is “OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL” and the date “1926” is at the very bottom.
The Reverse Indian side designed by Laura Fraser features a Native American, with a bow, standing with an outstretched arm. Behind him is a map of the United States. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is situated midway on the coin but dissected by the Indian.
As the first 48,000 coins were struck in Philadelphia, Meeker took a large number of them and sold them as he traversed the Old Oregon Trail. Selling at $1.00 each, the $.50 difference was profit for the OTMA to use in defraying the cost of marking the 2,000-mile length of the trail. The 1926 issue was dubbed the “Ezra Meeker Issue” as it was the only one that he handled. The first coin struck was reserved for Meeker as he earned it for his many years of hard work and effort. 47,955 coins were distributed and sold dated 1926.
Next, one hundred thousand coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint bearing the “S” mint mark. The Oregon Trail Memorial Commemorative became the very first commemorative coin to be struck at more than one mint. On December 29, 1926, Meeker celebrated his 96th birthday in New York City and he was presented with 96 Oregon Trail Memorial half dollars by the Association for all of his leadership and valiant efforts. 83,055 coins were sold and distributed bearing the “1926-S” date and mint mark.
Many 1926 and 1926-S Oregon coins remained unsold and the OTMA suggested more coins be struck dated 1927, but none were struck. However, in 1928 50,000 more were coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The elderly Meeker, now age 97, continued his travels on behalf of the OTMA and continued to raise money. Once again, he was presented with 97 coins on his birthday in December 1927 by the OTMA.
By 1928, Meeker was planning still more trips on behalf of the OTMA and to raise the consciousness of the American public about the Old Oregon Trail. He planned to travel to Michigan and then to New York City, but heading to NYC he fell ill. He completed his New York City trip and headed to Michigan where he was hospitalized. Fearing the end was near he headed back home to Washington State. On December 3, 1928, at age 98, Meeker passed away. Only 6,028 coins dated 1928 were distributed.
In early 1933, the OTMA convinced the Mint to exchange 10,000 1926-dated coins for 5,000 1928 coins and for 5,000 coins struck at the Denver Mint. This was approved, and the new coins were struck at the Denver Mint, being the first commemorative coins ever struck at Denver. 5,008 out of 5,250 1933-D coins struck were distributed and sold.
The OTMA was running out of money and turned to the Scott Stamp and Coin Company of New York City to distribute the coins nationwide. Some of the 1933-D coins were also sold by Scott Stamp and Coin at the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition. The 1933-D issue was successfully sold.
In 1934, 7,006 coins were again struck at the Denver Mint and were dubbed the “Fort Hall, Fort Laramie and Jason Lee issue coins.” Because these mintages were small, all of the coins sold well and quickly. In 1936, 10,006 coins were struck in Philadelphia and 5,006 were struck at the San Francisco Mint. Again, with these small mintages, all of the coins were sold.
In 1937, the OTMA once again took over the distribution and had 12,008 coins struck at the Denver Mint. These sold quickly and this inspired the OTMA to continue the coins for two additional years.
The 1938-dated coins were struck at all three mints, the first time that had happened for the Oregon Trail coin series. Mintages were 6,006 for the Philadelphia and San Francisco issues and 6,005 for Denver. They were sold as a set of three by the OTMA and all sets sold out.
1939 issued was the last one sold by the OTMA. It also was a 3-coin PDS set but the price was raised to $7.50 per set. 3,004 coins were minted for Philadelphia and Denver and 3,005 for the San Francisco coins. The coins didn’t sell instantly but eventually did all sell.
Although six million coins were authorized, a total of only 264,419 Oregon Trail Memorial half dollars were struck. Of that amount, 174 were delivered to the Assay Commission, and 61,317 were melted. Accordingly, only 202,928 were distributed to the public.
| Date | Type | Mintage | AU Value | Unc Value |
| 1926 | Oregon Trail | 47,995 | $150 | $500 |
| 1926-S | Oregon Trail | 83,055 | $150 | $550 |
| 1928 | Oregon Trail | 6,028 | $175 | $550 |
| 1933-D | Oregon Trail | 5,008 | $375 | $700 |
| 1934-D | Oregon Trail | 7,006 | $210 | $500 |
| 1936 | Oregon Trail | 10,006 | $175 | $300 |
| 1936-S | Oregon Trail | 5,006 | $195 | $375 |
| 1937-D | Oregon Trail | 12,008 | $175 | $350 |
| 1938 | Oregon Trail | 6,006 | $200 | $450 |
| 1938-D | Oregon Trail | 6.005 | $200 | $450 |
| 1938-S | Oregon Trail | 6,006 | $200 | $450 |
| 1939 | Oregon Trail | 3,004 | $350 | $650 |
| Date | Type | Mintage | AU Value | Unc Value |
| 1939-D | Oregon Trail | 3,004 | $350 | $650 |
| 1939-S | Oregon Trail | 3,005 | $350 | $650 |
Expand your collection today and shop for a 1926 Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar Commemorative Half BU.
